"Hrrgh..." Viktor groaned as he opened his eyes. His entire body was sore, like he had been worked to the bone. He sat up on his bed, looking at the unfamiliar room. "... Where the hell..."
"Finally awake, big guy?" A voice drew his attention, a familiar redhead, dressed in a nurse outfit, looked at him with an amused smile. "Luckily, I won't have to dispose of you."
"... Dispose of me?" Viktor repeated, confused by her statement.
"First off, put a shirt on. While I enjoy the view, I don't think you want your Crest exposed." Elga remarked, pointing at the dark-skinned boy. Only then did Viktor realized that his torso was exposed.
...
The two of them sat at a table on the balcony outside the room. Below was a bustling with people of different origins, some had feline ears, lizard features, bird wings and more. The sky shone a bright golden light, illuminating the streets and establishments. Viktor was impressed by the view, "So this is Arbreris..."
"A bit bright for my liking but it's not too bad, I guess." Elga commented, taking a sip of coffee, her ears flat in relaxation.
Viktor turned his attention to her, "What did you mean by dispose of me earlier?"
"Hmm? Oh that." Elga set down her cup while crossing her legs. "After your big light show, you fainted and your heart was barely beating. Out of the goodness of my heart, I couldn't just let you die like that so I dragged your massive body in this hotel and help you filter all this stimulants..." She explained with a half mocking, half reprimanding tone.
"Oh, I see." Viktor bowed his head. "Thank you for saving my life."
Elga threw her head back with a sigh, "That's all you have to say? Geez, and here I expected a hug."
"Oh... Uh... I mean I guess—"
"I'm joking, big boy." Elga lowered her crimson eyes on the dark-skinned boy, throwing a piece of paper at his forehead. "Oh, and while I'm at it... If you do something like that again, I'll crush your heart. Got it?"
Viktor's eyes widen for a moment before chuckling. He couldn't help it, he just found her switching tones somewhat funny. "Loud and clear, madame."
Elga rolled her eyes, "That bird's core paid for our stay alongside the medical instruments I used. Heck we even have a surplus, and a special offer for those partaking in trials. The details are in your hands, rest for a day or two and we'll skedaddle."
"So I don't owe you anything?"
"Ya still owe a date, big man. And I intend to stay alive to see that debt paid."
Viktor's jaw fell to the floor, "... You were serious."
"What made you think I wasn't?"
***
Two days later,
"Hey." Elga called out to Viktor, "If you don't mind me asking... How did you these scars?"
"Hmm?" Viktor was in the process of putting a shirt on when the redhead asked. "Which ones?"
"Start with the ones on your wrists." She said, sitting down on her bed.
"I used to work with smiths. From weapons to everyday commodities, I helped making them."
"Used to? Wait wait how old are you!?" Elga asked, somewhat baffled.
"I'm fifteen! Why are you looking so shock!? There's bigger build than mine at this age, you know!"
"... There is!?" Elga's ears stood in surprise.
"Anyways... To answer your question, these I got from my clumsiness and idiocy." Viktor brushed her off before concluding.
"And that one on your back?"
"This one..." Viktor breathed as memories replied in his mind. Seeing him taking a bit to answer, the redhead was about to dismiss her request, he didn't look comfortable answering so she wouldn't press but the dark-skinned boy started speaking. "... The world tree I used to live on was attacked by a Tau grade. A burning tree fell on me while I was fleeing. That's the gist of it."
"... I see." Elga closed her eyes. "Sorry for bringing up bad memories."
"Eh, don't apologize. It's in the past now." Viktor shook his head as he sat on his bed, equipping his weapon. "I lived to tell the tale, that's what matters to me."
"... Are you really one year younger than me? You look a bit too mature."
"Come on, you still don't believe me!?"
"Oh no, I do. It's just that you act differently from others, that's all." Elga turned around, checking on her own weapons.
"Do I though? I think I'm like everyone else."
"... Right. Since we're on this topic, I feel like I can tell a bit about me too."
"Huh? You don't have to, you know."
"What, you don't want to know your partner, considering we'll be stuck together for Kupraca knows how long?"
Viktor scratched the back of his head, "Well, you do have a point..."
Elga sighed, sending her weapons back to her ring. "Brawn over brains... You better change that before it sticks for good."
"I might, miss battle maniac." Viktor called jokingly.
"Why thank you, big sir." Elga jumped on her bed, facing the dark-skinned boy while performing a bow before turning around again. She threw her long blood red hair over her shoulder as she unbuttoned her top.
"Hey hey! What are you doing!?" Viktor asked in panic as he covered his eyes.
"Come on, afraid of a lil bit of skin?" Elga smirked. A part of her enjoyed teasing the mountain of muscles that was Viktor. "I'm making it up for looking at your Crest," Her white shirt fell effortlessly on the bed, she made sure none of her were in the way. "Don't be afraid to peek, I won't bite."
Viktor was still comvering his eyes, he didn't want to look out of respect but curiosity got the better of him. He slightly moved a finger out of way to peek, and shock spread across his face as he dropped his hands. While the one on his back was bad, Elga's proved to be even worse. Her Crest depicted a red wolf seemingly biting the moon but it was covered by atrocious claw, chains and whip marks.
"W-what happened..." He blurted out subconsciously.
"Callidians wear collars and chains to keep their feral nature in check from birth, and some use it as an excuse to batter us to near death. My only way of escaping that was to break my chains and tear off my collar." She moved her hair a bit more, revealing the white scars on her neck.
"That's horrible..." Viktor muttered in disbelief.
"Yep but only the lucky ones get to live to tell the tale. The others are more often than not turned into obedient guard dogs with little to no will of their own." Elga slid her shirt back on before facing the dark-skinned boy. His face didn't just bear horror but also anger and disgust, a common reaction from hearing something like for the first time.
"Cheer up, will ya?" Elga said, smirking. "Like you said, it's in the past now. I loved to tell the tale, that's what matters to me."
Viktor couldn't help but sigh. In his case, it was more of an unforseen scenario—a tragic one sure but still unforseen. But for Elga, she experienced the worst of people. At least that was how he saw it.
"Still... Does it happen to you that... You wish you could have done something to help?" That was a question that Viktor often asked himself. What if he had done something different that day, what if he could have warned the others fast enough? Though all evidences pointed out that there was nothing he could have done, be couldn't help himself.
"... Sometimes I do, but I know I have to stop that for good." Elga laid her head down, looking at the white and gold ceiling. "I've learned that while this whole ordeal is an interrealm issue, one man sits at the top of the market, in the fourth realm more specifically. He orchestrates this industry of slavery and abuse in the shadows, I may not what he looks like or who he is but one thing is certain..." A murderous luster appeared in the redhead's eyes as she squeezed her fist, blood staining ber nails. "I WILL find him and I WILL kill him."
Viktor listened silently to Elga's vow of vengeance. "You know, you might not pull this off all by yourself."
"Oh, I know alright but it doesn't matter. What does is to make all of this stop once and for all."
"Alright, count me in." Viktor declared, striking his fist into his palm.
"Eh? You sure you want to get involved big guy? It might not well for either of us." Elga warned but she could see a blazing determination in his eyes, he would not bsck down. "Hmph, have it your way then. Let's walk into this hell together, Viktor Rois."
"I'll make sure you don't die before then, Elga Cerberella!"